Amandus Adamson

The paintings by Amandus Adamson are well known, but they are rare. The paintings by a sculptor, who is known as a brilliant form expert, are few in number and this applies especially to the period around 1890ies, which has unanimously been regarded his prime creative time, when he undergone “an intensive flourishing period” (Tiina Nurk). Adamson, having studied in St.Petersburg and elsewhere, found surprisingly the new breath near his home in Paldiski, where he painted sea and coastal life. A panoramic picture is framed here by cliffs, but with equal sincerity the artist can feel both the natural and painting environment. Slight tension is born in the course of contrasting broken forms and slanting sea, the view that is directed into the distance widens the picture room in a strange manner. The motif is slightly unexpected, but it has been well thought through and it is sophisticated. Even that would be enough to regard the extremely rare painting from the creational peak of one of the most significant Estonian artists to be something much more than just a brilliant depiction of his home.